The Boston Red Sox recently found themselves at an impasse with the Minnesota Twins regarding a potential trade for coveted starting pitcher Joe Ryan, as reports indicate Boston was unwilling to part with any of its big-league outfield talent. This strategic stalemate highlights the Red Sox’s commitment to their current roster composition, even when pursuing significant upgrades to their pitching rotation.
Despite widespread interest in bolstering their pitching staff, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow reportedly maintained a firm stance against including established major league outfielders in any deal for Ryan. This position ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations, as the Twins sought more immediate impact talent or a more enticing package of top-tier prospects than what Boston was offering.
Sources close to the Minnesota Twins’ organization revealed that discussions faltered precisely because Boston’s proposed minor league prospects were deemed insufficient, and their refusal to include major league outfielders created an insurmountable hurdle. This development occurred just hours after MLB’s trade deadline, a period characterized by intense negotiations and strategic decisions across the league.
Following the July 31st trade deadline, conflicting narratives emerged regarding how close the Boston Red Sox truly came to acquiring Joe Ryan. While one prominent MLB insider suggested Boston made a significant last-minute push, other respected reporters indicated that the Red Sox were never genuinely close to finalizing a deal with Minnesota.
McCaffrey’s report specifically implied that Boston’s unwillingness to deal extended to key outfielders such as Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and the highly-touted prospect Roman Anthony. Given the Red Sox’s well-documented surplus of outfield talent throughout the season, this reluctance to part with any of them for a top-of-the-rotation arm was met with some surprise within baseball circles.
It’s speculated that perhaps a Triple-A prospect like Jhostynxon Garcia might have been offered, but an unproven minor leaguer would likely not have satisfied the Minnesota Twins’ demand for significant returns. Minnesota, in fact, was engaged in a substantial ‘fire sale’ ahead of 2026, executing nine trades including high-profile players like Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran, and Harrison Bader, signaling a clear intent to reshape their roster.
The Twins’ inability to trade Joe Ryan, amidst their aggressive shedding of other assets, underscores his perceived value. For the Boston Red Sox, failing to secure Ryan meant missing out on a potential top-of-the-rotation complement to Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello. Boston did acquire starting pitcher Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers, though his season ERA suggests a less immediate impact on the pitching staff.
While Red Sox chief Craig Breslow refrained from directly naming the Twins in his post-deadline remarks, his comments seemed to hint at frustrations with certain clubs’ negotiation stances, implying a lack of genuine interest from their counterparts despite Boston’s efforts to engage in trade discussions for a valuable arm.
